Novak Djokovic
Novak Djokovic of Serbia races to hit a return during his second round match against Andreas Haider-Maurer of Austria at the U.S. Open Championships tennis tournament in New York, September 2, 2015. REUTERS/Adrees Latif REUTERS/Adrees Latif

Novak Djokovic and Andreas Seppi are featured in the third-round action of the 2015 US Open. Djokovic eased into the last 32 with straight-sets victory 6-4 6-1 6-2 over Andreas Haider-Maurer on Wednesday evening while Seppi reached round three after beating unseeded Russian Teymuraz Gabashvili in four sets on Court 13 earlier on day three of the 2015 US Open.

The World No. 1 Serb, who has yet to drop a set at Flushing Meadows, only needed a little over an hour to emerge victorious in his opening two matches. He beat Brazilian Joao Souza in the first round 6-1 6-1 6-1 in one hour and eight minutes. Against Haider-Maurer in the second round, Djokovic clinched victory 6-4 6-1 6-2 in one hour and 31 minutes.

Speaking after his second-round match in a report by ATPWorldTour.com, the nine-time grand slam champion and 2011 US Open champion said that the New York grand slam tournament has been one of the most consistent tournaments he had in the last eight years. Since 2007, Djokovic has always made it to the last four at Flushing Meadows.

“I obviously try each year to get myself in a position to fight for the trophy,” Djokovic said. “That’s no different this year.”

Djokovic next plays Seppi, who had not won a single match in their previous 10 encounters. The third-round match is only the second time that both players will clash in a grand slam setup. The Serb had only dropped four sets against the Italian in all their previous meetings. They last played in the hard courts of Dubai in 2013.

The winner of the match between Djokovic and Seppi will take on either No. 23 seed Roberto Bautista Agut or No. 14 seed David Goffin in the last 16. If Djokovic extends his winning streak over Seppi, a potential quarterfinal showdown with Rafael Nadal looms. The two-time Spanish US Open champion will play Fabio Fognini in the third round.

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